PHOTO BY CARMEN TROESSER
NATURAL ORDER
Susie & Jeff Hochman
“The older I get, the more I like character,” says Susie Hochman. “If it’s got a wrinkle or two, I’m fine with that.”
Her kitchen, at once raw and stylish, includes its share of weathered stone, cracked oak, and subway tile lined with a dark grout.
Hochman adores the compilation of natural materials, from the soapstone and marble countertops to the teak wood cabinets with a ceruse finish. “I feel so comfortable here. There’s nothing too precious, yet it’s beautiful,” she says.
She and her husband, Jeff Hochman, had grown weary of their Shaker-style cherry cabinets, corner sink, and the L-shaped peninsula that bisected the cooking space, when they decided to renovate their condo kitchen three years ago.
“We wanted an open space,” says Susie. “The peninsula was like a barricade, and the sink in the corner was the kiss of death.”
Designer Dana Romeis, who consulted on the project, served as referee when the couple didn’t see eye-to-eye. “After 46 years of marriage, we’ve had a couple disagreements,” says Susie, with a wink. “Dana can’t help but be neat and streamlined. And she knows us so well.”
Open oak shelving allows the couple to display the many objects they’ve found at garage sales and in travels to such places as Thailand and Italy. “We have a lot of stuff,” says Jeff. “But it’s still a clean look,” Susie finishes.
Most of the plates and bowls stacked on the shelves are used during the course of a week, so dust hasn’t been an issue. “It’s just so easy to snatch a glass,” says Susie.
It was Romeis who sourced the Ann Sacks “Foundation Brick” tile, which covers one wall and the kitchen hood. “When we saw it, we thought: ‘That is way cool!’” says Susie.
The kitchen island was Jeff’s vision. It’s built of wood, with iron legs and a footrest, much like a workbench. “We have six granddaughters,” he says. “They sit here, laugh, and giggle.”
While Susie loves the mix of materials, Jeff is partial to the details, like patches of wood beneath the shelves and nail holes that have been filled atop the island counter.
“These grooves are also fun to do,” he says, pointing to the built-in drain board on the right side of the sink. The couple love the wood floors in the new wing of the Saint Louis Art Museum and decided that they had to have something similar for their kitchen. Despite its many features, “the kitchen flows,” says Susie.
Like the spouses who love to cook side by side, the room’s components work well together.
PHOTO BY CARMEN TROESSER
ZONED FOR FUNCTION
Meredith & Jason Rabenold
Two years ago, when Meredith and Jason Rabenold moved into their Town & Country home, they realized that the kitchen didn’t flow in the way they needed it to.
“It’s where we spend the majority of our time,” Meredith explains. “With an expanding family, we wanted a space where I could cook while the kids play in the adjoining hearth room. We also needed it to be a great place to gather when we entertain.”
Designer Mary Ellen Going of Karr Bick Kitchen & Bath devised a plan to maximize the kitchen’s functionality, organizing the space into a cooking zone and a cleaning zone. Like a commercial kitchen, it has plenty of room in which to work and a separate dirty-dish area.
Hexagonal wraparound islands were replaced with a horizontal island and long prep counter. Imperial Danby marble covers the prep island, and family-friendly super-white suede-finish quartzite was selected for the perimeter, all with a substantial 6-centimeter profile. The antiqued Walker Zanger Calacatta marble tile backsplash from the company’s Rue Pierre Collection adds a unique basketweave texture.
Clean white Divinity–painted cabinetry (Divinity is a paint color offered by the cabinet manufacturer) is continued on the face of the SubZero fridge, and plentiful drawer space provides a place for everything—including a “kid drawer.”
A second dishwasher was a priority, and Meredith chose a panel-ready Bosch that eliminates the issue of little fingerprints on stainless steel.
The cooktop was upgraded to a Wolf double oven with griddle and grill, which Jason frequently uses during the winter, and his other request was plenty of light. “As a surgeon, he’s used to being in the OR and working in bright rooms,” Meredith jokes. “But we made sure the switches all had dimmers.”
The Rabenolds made the decision to renovate during a hectic time. “We have a 2-year-old and a newborn, so it was crazy for a while,” Meredith recalls. But having a kitchen that reflects your lifestyle can be worth the growing pains.
PHOTO BY CARMEN TROESSER
PERSONAL TOUCH
Sara & Keith Bozler
When Keith and Sara Bozler purchased their 1920s-era house in University City, they bought it knowing that they would renovate the kitchen. The original kitchen was “closed off, with separate kitchen, dining room, and breakfast nook,” says Sara.
“We really wanted to open it up and have one big flowing space,” she recalls.
With assistance from Helen Lee of Tao + Lee Associates and Jay Eiler, Allied ASID, and several other companies and contractors, the couple handpicked every detail of their new space, from the Danby marble countertops to the 48-inch stainless steel Wolf stove.
“Sara is a fantastic cook,” says Keith, “so we literally bought the stove before we designed the kitchen and built things around it.”
With such special touches as two sinks and a wine fridge, the Bozlers’ kitchen is designed for entertaining. The pair has arranged the stools at the island in a U-shape to encourage conversation.
Keith admits that some of the features, originally considered splurges, have come in handy—including the hot water system that he calls a “sanity saver” for warming up bottles for the couple’s twin daughters, now 20 months old.
For Sara, clean lines were as important as having a place for everything. Drawers inside drawers keep the family organized, and the pantry hides small appliances that would otherwise create clutter on the counters. An under-counter drawer microwave and an actuator on the trashcan drawer make everyday prep and cleanup easier.
Life with two young children has put the kitchen to the test. With the trash drawer and microwave low to the floor, they’re easy for the girls to open and close, and, as Sara has learned, the stainless steel appliances show “every smear and fingerprint.”
Still, “it’s incredibly functional for these two little kids,” says Keith. The open format allows Sara to keep an eye on the children as they play in the breakfast nook–turned–playroom.
“They have their own kitchen, and they cook while Mommy cooks,” says Sara.
